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Re: [TowerTalk] Rotator Lightning Protection

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Rotator Lightning Protection
From: "Paul Christensen" <w9ac@arrl.net>
Date: Fri, 15 May 2015 11:15:50 -0400
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Jim,

"what about mechanical limit switches on the rotator motor?"

A possibility but that's probably best done when these units are back on the ground for service. That shouldn’t be for quite a long time.

"Since it's a DC motor, you put a diode in series with each of the two
switches, which are then paralleled."

Maybe I'm just being dense this morning, but I don’t see how a series/parallel diode combination helps in this case. I just drew-out the electrical diagram but don't see how the diode would limit current during an MOV fault while still allowing rotator current during a normal turning operation.

A bit more info: The prop pitch uses two windings: one for CW and the other for CCW. A common lead connects to the ends of each and ultimately, this common lead routes to the controller's MOSFET. The M2 controller uses a P&B frame relay that directs +48V to either the CW or CCW winding, depending on the called direction. The relay's NC contacts are on one or the other windings. I forgot which. But the MOV failure would result in current in this NC winding since its connected to +48V via the NC relay contact.

Paul, W9AC


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